Weatherproof plural lamp-socket.



H.513. BENJAMIN. WBATHBRPROOB PLURAL LAMP SOCKET.

I I I APPLICATION FILED APR.8,1907. $1 2416 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Pant6113991; Jan. 10, 1911.

R. B. BENJAMIN WEATHERPROOF PLURAL LAMP SOCKET.

. APPLICATION FILED APR.8,1907. EL? :1 g

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

' UNITED i STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, IIJLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WEATHERPROOF PLURAL LAMP-SOCKET. I

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan, 10, 1911.

Application filed April 8, 1907. Serial No. 367,096.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and .useful Improvements in Weatherproof Plural Lamp-Sockets, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, r'eferencerbeing had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part-of this specification.

This invention relates'to improvements in lamp-sockets, and particularly-to an incandescent lamp socket in which-the lamp'is held with its axis disposed ata'n angle'to the baseof the device and substantially. par-1 allel with the face of the-wall'or other support towhich the device is secured, the pri n-. cipal object of the in ention being to'proride-a lamp-holding device ofthis class in which no joints are presentinto which moisture can find its way. I i

'In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view of one form of my device, the section being taken on the line l 1 of Fig. 1; Fig. 2 is a section of the same device, the section being taken on a plane at right angles to the plane of the section in Fig. l and on the line 22 of F ig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of thisdcvice looking into one of the lamp-receiving sockets; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of this form of-device showing the means for making connection with the supply Wire's; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, the section being taken on the line of Fig. 1; F ig. 6 is a broken View, partly in elevation and partly in section, of another form of my device; Fig. 7 is a bottom'plan view of the same, showing the means for' making connection with the supply wircs;. Fig.8

' is a section'onthe line 8-8 of Fig. 7, looking I in the direction :indicatedby the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a broken elevational "view of the base portion of another form of my device with some of the parts removed. Fig.10 is a bottom plan view of the form of device shown in Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11-11. of Fig. 10/

dteferring particularly toFigs. 1, 2, 3, l and 5, 12 is a .member formed ofpoi'cel-ain' or other suitable insulating material and havfng upon one of its ends a base 13 adapt-.- cd to be secured to the face of a wall or other similar support. This member 12 is also formed or provided with a lamp-receiving part 14, this part 14 as well as the base 13 being, in this case, formed integral with the part 12, making a solid porcelain structure. The part H is formed with two recesses 1:} and LGeXtending inopposite directions, a-ndin these recesses-15*and16 are secured lamp-receiving shells or sockets 17 and 18, these sockets being secured in place .and electrically connected by means of a bolt 23*; 1 v

Extending through i'the member12 and base 13 is a passage 19 through which extends abolt 20;;A passage 21 extends from the i ecesslti to therecess 16,'and-in this passage is locateda plate 22. :The end of the ;bolt 20 projects -into-the passage 21 and is ,screwed .intothe plate 22.? Thistplate 22 is '75 substantially U-shapcd, and is-secured by screws 23 and 24 to. the lamp-receiving s0ck ets and 18. Upon the opposite r outer end ofthe bolt 20 1s a terminal plate 5, this plate 25 being provided with a bindingscrew. 26. Electricalconnection is thus es 29, thisplate extendingthrough a passage 30 which leads from one of the. sockets 17 to .the other'socket 18, the ends,31 and 32 of the plate 29 projecting through suitable 0 enings in the sockets 17 and 18 and being cut the sockets.- "When the device'is adapted for lamps of the'Edison. type the sockets 17 and 18 will be screw-threaded to cooperate with thethreaded outer terminals of the lamps,- and the ends 31 and-32 of the plate 29 will .engage'the. centerQterminals of the lamps when these 'lampsarescrewed into the sockets. Upon'the-oute'r end of the bolt 28 is a terminal'plate 33 provided with a bindingscrew 34 adapted for the reception ofone of the supply wires, electrical connection being downward'to form'the center contacts'formade with the lamps through this screw 34,

plate 33, bolt .28" and plate 29.

' The base-:13-is provided with a rib 35pmto separate the' plates 25 and 33' and to' 'prevent. the wires secured to these plates *f-rom ecoming' in. eontact with each other, Orr-the j .jecting from the bottomthereof'and adapted outer-side or me plate 33 is a rib'36, a simi. lar rib 37 being located on the outer side of the plate These ribs 35, 36 and 37 are. formed so that their outer edges conform tothe line of a circle. \Vhen the base 13 is to be secured to a wall or other support, a circular opening will first be made in the wall and the device will be applied to the wall with the ribs 35, 36 and 37 projecting into this 'opening. Holes 38 and 39, passing through the base 13, are adapted to receive screws or bolts to secure the fixture to the wall. The leading-in wires will then be brought in from the opposite side of the wall and will be laid in the channels 40 and 41 between the ribs 35, 36 and 37 and secured to the binding-screws 26 and. 34. By this means a weatherproof-socket is provided, the connections being made .from the rear side of the wall to which the device is secured and being thus wholly unexposed to the weather. This is of particular advantage in outdoor sign work -and the like where the device is secured tothe exposed side of a board or a metallic plate.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 6, 7, and 8, I have shown therein a form of device in which a different method of securing the socket to the wall or other support is employed. 'In this device, the base 13 is pro vided with a circular screw-threaded projection 42 adapted to be inserted through a circular opening in the'part to which thede-' vice is secured. 43 indicates a thin wall such as the sheet-metal covering of an electric sign. Interposed between the sheet-metal plate 43 and the base 13 of-the device is a packing-ring of rubber or similar material 44. Adapted to be screwed onto the threaded projection 42 is a threaded metallic sleeve 45. When this sleeve 45 is firmly screwed up into place, the whole device is firmly se cured to the wall 43, and moisture is prevented from finding its way to the inner sideof the wall'43, and to the connections of the fixture, by reason of the fact that the packing-ring 44 is firmly secured betweenthe base 13 and plate 43 and makes a tight joint thcrebetween. The arrangement of contact plates, sockets,-ctc., may be the same with this form of the device as in the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, but in this easel make the porcelain structure in two parts, one of these parts constituting the base 13, while the other part. 14 contains the metallic sockets 15 and 16. The bolts 20 and .28 secure the parts-ct the porcelain structure to- "other, as well as conducting current from the binding-screws to the contacts associated with the laml'i-reeeiving sockets. Plates 46 and 47, arranged upon the end of the projec tion 42, carry the binding-screws 48 and 49.

These plates 4-6 and 47 are located in channels 50 and 51 between the ribs 52, 53 and 54, the arrangement being similar to that de-.

. scibed in connection with the form of device shown 1n Figs'l, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 I have shown still wall" and intdthiscircular opening will bev insertedthe screw-threaded portion 42 of the device. the ring or threadedshell 45 being then slipped on and screwed up so as to securely clamp the device in place. The leading-in wires will then be brought to the binding-screws .and secured in place, these wires being, of course, in the case of an electric sign, all contained within the casing of the sign. By the use of such a device the presence of screws or bolts passin inwardly through the wall of the sign an having their heads exposed to moisture is made unnecessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. In a plural lamp-socket, a molded structure formed ofinsulating material and comprising a base and a one piece portion formed with a pair-of lamp-receiving recesses therein disposed with their axes coincident and parallel with .the support to which the base is secured.

2. In a plural lamp-socket, a structure composed of porcelain and formed with a plurality of lamp receiving recesses disposed with their axes in the same plane and parallel with the surface to which the device is secured, contacts in said recesses, binding terminals exterior to said porcelain structure, and permanent connections between said contacts and said terminals.

In a weather-proof lamp-socket, the combination'of a porcelain structure having a base portion adapted to be secured to a plane support and a cylindrical portion having a lamp-receiving recess disposed with itsaxis parallel with the planesupport, suitable contacts associated with said recess, binding terminals on said base portion, and permanent connections extending through said base portion fromsaid contactsto said terminals 4. In a weather proof plural lamp-socket,

the combiantion of a structure formed of insulating material and comprising a base adapted to be secured to a plane. support and a pair of lamp-receiving sockets, with suitand a'circular projection located on the base tend through said sup 'iort, and having re- A to be serewedonto said threaded projection comprising a member formed of insulating material and having a socket formed therein 20.

. tacts.

allel with said wal'.

able. contacts associated with said sockets,

portion and extending at a right angle with the axes of the lamp-receiving sockets, said projection being formed with channelscxtending tberethrongh' and adapted for the reception of wires. I A Weather-proof lamp-holding dei'icc having, a lampreceiving socket and base forn'ied of insulating material, said base portion being adapted to be secured to the face of a plane support, a member projecting from said iaise-portion and adapted to excsses, plates located in said recesses, and binding-screws carried by said plates.

6. A weather-proof"iamphold1ng device to receive and support a. lamp, suitable contacts ada )ted for engagement with the ter- 'm'inals 0 the lamp, a base portionadapted tobe-secured to a planesu'pport with ,the axis of the lamp disposed at an angle tos'ueh support, a threaded projection on saidbase portion, afithreaded clamping-shell adapted and. thereby to secure-the device-to said sup ort, binding terminals mounted on said base portion, and permanent connections between said binding terminals and said con- 7. The COll'lblllZltlOllOf an insulating niem-' be'r formed with a base, lamp-supporting means carried by said base and extending at right angles therefrom, threaded means proje'cting from said base and adapted to be in-* sorted through anopening in a wall or similar support, and a clamping ring adapted to be screwed onto said threaded portion and thereby to secure the device to said" Wall with the lamp carried thereby disposed par- 8. The combination of a member formed of insulatinp n'iateriai and having a base, a lamp-receiving device carried by said member, lamp contacts for said lampa'eceiving devices, a corrugated portion formed on said base and extending at a rightangle with said Ilium-rewiring device, a corrugatetb sleeve adapted to be iassed onto said corrugated portion after said portion has been in-' sorted through an opening in a support or wall and thereby to sccure the device to said support or wall with the axis of the lamp disposed parallel thereto, binding, terminals carried by said member and located at the, end of said corrugated portion, and permanent connections between said binding tern'iinalsand said lamp contacts.

5). A weather-proof lamp-holding devicecompris electrical connection with supplywires and aparts, suitable contacts associated with said sockets, and a pair of bolts adaptedto secure said parts toqetl-icr and to conduct current I from said biiulii1gscre\\'s,to said contacts.

11. In a weatherproof lamp holding device, in combination, a structure formedof.

insulating material and comprising two sop; arable parts, one disposed at an angle to the. other, a. lamp, receiving. socketcomprising associated inner and outer contacts said socket being carried by one of said parts-antbSS disposed thereon so as to extend-titan angle r relatively to the other part, binding terminals' carriedby said otherpart andvbol-ts extending from said, binding screws tmtheh partSoftlie struct lre together. .,.c I 12. In arweather proof lamp holding vice; the combination with an ins Itlllg structure formed in: separable parts oneljojim said parts having a. recess, of an outer lamp receiv nglcontact arranged n,.sa1d,r,ec es s, a 1

center la'nifi 'contactaranged in said recess and bolts extending through the parts. o'ftlie,

tively, and rarrying current thereto. I I I I 13. In adveather-proof lamp-holding de- Q. vice, the combination of a structure formed; of insulating material and made in separable parts, one of said parts having a base adapted to be secured to the face of a support, another of said parts having a recess, a center and outer contact contained in said recess and adapted for the reception of an iiusandescent lamp, the. axis of said recess being disposed parallel with the face of such support, and means extending through the parts of the insulating structure and engaging said contacts for securing'said parts together and conducting current to the contacts.

1-1. In a weather-proof lamp-holding device, the combination of a porcelain structurc formed in separable parts, one of said parts having, a base adaptedto be secured to the face of the support, another of said parts having 'a lamp-receiving recess and lam p-termnull-engaging contacts in said re- .cess, said recess being so disposed that the "lauip-holding (10- 70 contacts of said socket and adapted to con-ailo ducf current tosaid contactsand to holdthen:

'insulatinginember at a right anglcto'gthelO'O axis of "the lamp-receiving eontact gandnadapted to secure the parts of the insi.llati n member together, saidibolts e1igaging saidi i outer contactand said center contact, respec- 1 1,05

izo

reception of incandescent electric lamps with their axes disposed radially in the same plane, suitable contacts carried within the lam i-rceelving recesses, terminal dates on said base, and means adapted to conduct current to said contacts and to secure said plates in position, and also to secure the parts otsaid porcelain structure together.

16, In a plural lamp-holding device, the combination of a porcelain structure formed in separable parts, one of said parts having a base formed thereon, another of said parts having two recesses therein adapted for the reception of incandescent-lamp bases, suitable contacts carried within said recesses, and means for conducting current to said contacts, said means being adapted also to secure the parts of said porcelain structure together.

17. In a plural lamp holding device, the

combination of a porcelain structure forn'ied with two lan'ip-receiving recesses and with two passages connccting said recesses, outer lamp contacts and center lamp contacts arranged in said recesses, a plate disposed in one of said passages for connecting said outer lamp contacts together, a plate dispOSttl in the other passage for connecting said center contacts together, binding terminals carried upon the outside of said structure, and permanent connection means between said binding terminals and said first and second named plates.

l l l g x i 18. In a plurality of lamp-holding de 19. In a' plurality of lamp-holding devices, the combination of an insulating structurehaving a plurality of lam -receiving recesses formed therein, suitab e contacts adapted to-engage the terminals of lamps, when inserted into said recesses,- said insulating structure havin a base, a circular projection extending om said base and formed with de )l'eSSlOIlS, binding-screws located in said epressions, and means for conducting current from said bindingrscrews tosaid contacts.

20. In a weather-proof plural lamp-holding device, the comblnation of an insulating structure formed with a plurality of lampreceiving recesses and having also a base adapted'to be secured to a plane surface, a circular projection on said base adapted to extend below the level of said plane surface,

said projection having recesses, bindingscrews in said recesses, and means adapted to provide electrical connection between said landing-screws and said contacts.

In witness hereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

Witnesses M. L. FARRAR, (,3. L. HOPKINS. 

